AL Security Guard cheat sheet

A security guard's arrest power derives from the same citizen's-arrest authority available to any private person; guards have no police powers unless separately sworn.

Alabama citizen's arrest: a private person may arrest for a felony committed in the person's presence, or for a breach of the peace committed in the person's presence, and must deliver the arrestee to a judge or magistrate without unnecessary delay.

A private person generally may not use deadly force to make an arrest; deadly force is limited to self-defense or defense of another against imminent death or serious physical injury.

Use-of-force continuum: presence, verbal direction, soft empty-hand control, hard empty-hand control, intermediate weapons, deadly force; each step must be justified by the subject's actions.

Objective reasonableness (Graham v. Connor factors): severity of the offense, immediate threat to officers or others, and active resistance or flight.

A guard may use reasonable non-deadly force to prevent a felony, defend persons, or eject a trespasser after a lawful request to leave.

Detention by a private guard is a citizen's arrest or a consensual encounter; failure to release promptly when authority ends may create false-imprisonment liability.

Search of a person by a private guard generally requires consent or a valid contractual/employer authority; the Fourth Amendment applies to government actors, but state law and tort liability still govern private searches.

Miranda warnings attach only to custodial interrogation by government agents; a private guard's questions are not Miranda-triggered, but coerced statements can still be excluded or create civil liability.

Theft of property (Ala. Code §13A-8-2) is graded by value: Class A misdemeanor if value does not exceed $500; Class C felony if exceeds $500 but not $1,500; Class B felony if exceeds $1,500 but not $2,500; Class A felony if exceeds $2,500.

Robbery (Ala. Code §13A-8-43) requires force or threat of force in the course of a theft; robbery in the first degree involves a deadly weapon or serious physical injury.

Burglary (Ala. Code §13A-7-5 et seq.) requires unlawful entry of a building with intent to commit a crime therein; degrees turn on whether the building is a dwelling and whether a person is present.

Assault degrees (Ala. Code §13A-6-20 et seq.): first degree requires intent to cause serious physical injury or use of a deadly weapon; third-degree assault is a Class C misdemeanor absent aggravating factors.

Criminal trespass (Ala. Code §13A-7-4) occurs when a person enters or remains unlawfully on premises after being warned; notice may be oral, written, or posted.

Harassment (Ala. Code §13A-11-8) includes physical contact or threats intended to alarm; menacing (Ala. Code §13A-6-23) is placing another in fear of imminent serious physical injury.

Criminal mischief (Ala. Code §13A-7-21) is damage to property; degree depends on value of damage and whether the property is critical infrastructure.

Possession of burglar's tools (Ala. Code §13A-7-8) requires possession of implements adapted for burglary with intent to use them in a burglary.

Alabama's self-defense statute (Ala. Code §13A-3-23) permits force, including deadly force, when a person reasonably believes it necessary to defend against unlawful force, subject to retreat and aggressor limitations.

Patrol patterns: fixed post, random patrol, directed patrol, and perimeter sweeps; random patrol deters by creating unpredictable presence.

Observation baseline: establish what is normal for the post (lighting, doors, traffic, occupancy) so anomalies are detectable.

Report facts, not conclusions: record time, location, persons, actions, and statements; avoid labels like 'suspicious' without describing behavior.

Note-taking at scene: record exact times, badge numbers, witness contact information, and environmental conditions before memory decays.

Chain of custody: document every transfer of evidence with date, time, receiving person, and seal condition.

Patrol checks should include doors, windows, lighting, fire equipment, access points, and vehicles; log each check with time and result.

Descriptions should follow a consistent order: sex, race, age, height, weight, hair, eyes, clothing, distinguishing features, direction of travel.

Incident reports are discoverable; write them as if they will be read in court and avoid speculation or opinion.

Life safety precedes property protection and scene preservation in every emergency priority decision.

Evacuation decision rule: evacuate when the hazard is fire, smoke, or an active threat; shelter in place for severe weather or external contamination.

Fire response: activate alarm, call 911, confine the fire by closing doors, evacuate, and never re-enter a burning structure.

Active threat: run if safe, hide if not, fight only as a last resort; guards should not attempt to confront an armed attacker without training and capability.

Medical emergencies: ensure scene safety, call 911, provide care within training (CPR/AED/first aid), and document times of interventions.

Incident command: the first responder on scene establishes command and transfers it formally with a briefing; command is not assumed by rank alone.

Bomb threat: record exact wording, note background sounds, keep the caller talking, and follow the facility's evacuation/search protocol.

Post-incident: preserve the scene, secure evidence, identify witnesses, and complete documentation before end of shift.

First-impression rule: tone, posture, and the first sentence shape whether a contact escalates or de-escalates.

De-escalation tools: lower voice volume, slow speech, use the person's name, offer choices, and maintain safe distance.

Do not argue about policy in public; state the rule once, offer a supervisor or alternative, and document the interaction.

Customer service versus enforcement: explain the reason for a request before applying authority when time and safety permit.

Bias-free contact: base decisions on behavior and articulable facts, not on race, ethnicity, religion, sex, or appearance.

Complaint handling: listen, record facts, avoid admitting liability, and route the complaint to the designated authority.

Media contact: refer inquiries to the designated spokesperson; do not release names, images, or incident details.

Professional appearance and uniform standards signal authority and reduce ambiguity during contacts.

Access control layers: perimeter, building envelope, interior zones, and asset-specific controls; each layer should fail independently.

Credential checks: verify photo, name, expiration, and zone authorization; tailgating is the most common access-control failure.

Visitor management: log name, purpose, host, time in, time out, and badge issuance; escort visitors in restricted zones.

Key control: maintain a key log, use numbered keys, and rekey when a key is lost or an employee separates.

CCTV: document camera coverage, retention period, and chain of custody for exported video; video is evidence.

Fire safety: know extinguisher locations and PASS technique (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep); keep egress paths clear.

Personal safety: maintain reaction distance, watch hands, avoid positioning between a subject and an exit, and call for backup before physical intervention.

Hazard reporting: report unsafe conditions in writing with location, description, and time; follow up on corrective action.

Alabama security guards are regulated by the Alabama Security Regulatory Board; guards must be licensed and employed by a licensed contract security company.

License requirements typically include a minimum age (18), background check, fingerprinting, and completion of required training hours before licensure.

Carry the license or registration card while on duty and produce it on request of the Board or law enforcement.

Ethical decision rule: act lawfully, then by policy, then by the client's interest; never trade law or safety for convenience.

Conflicts of interest: disclose outside employment, gifts, or relationships that could affect judgment; do not use position for personal gain.

Confidentiality: client information, access codes, and incident details are released only to authorized persons.

Report licensing violations, use-of-force incidents, and arrests to the employer as required; failure to report can result in license discipline.

Training currency: maintain required continuing education and CPR/first aid certifications; expired credentials can void authority to work.

Radio protocol: identify unit, state the message, and acknowledge; keep transmissions brief and use plain language when possible.

Phonetic alphabet and clear speech reduce miscommunication; spell names and license plates using phonetics.

Report structure: who, what, when, where, why, how; chronological order with times and named sources.

Use active voice and first person; avoid passive constructions that hide who did what.

Quote statements verbatim in quotation marks; paraphrase only when labeled as a paraphrase.

Do not include conclusions of law or guilt; describe observed behavior and leave determinations to the court.

Correct errors with a single line-through and initials, not by erasing or using correction fluid.

Reports should be complete, accurate, concise, objective, and timely; late reports lose credibility.